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FOUNDATION AND THE ARTICLES
OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Association was established on December 18, 1996. The highest body
of the Association is the General Meeting. The Association is managed
by the Board of 9 elected members and the appointed Managing Director.
The Estonian Business Association is a non-profit organisation operating
as a private legal entity, the purpose of which is to develop a favourable
entrepreneurial and foreign economic environment in the Republic of
Estonia.
The members of the Association can be the legal entities operating as
businesses that meet at least one of the following conditions:
1 net sales and revenues exceed two hundred (200) million EEK per year;
or 2 equity capital exceeds sixty (60) million EEK;
or 3 the entity employs at least one thousand (1000) persons;
and individuals who have special merits towards the Association or who
have remarkably contributed to realisation of the Association's main
objective - development of a favourable business and foreign economic
environment in Estonia, and who carry on this mission either as individuals
or managers of companies or business associations.
The businesses that are members of the Association nominate a person
belonging to the highest level of management of the business, authorised
to represent the business at the Association. All members have the right
to be elected into the management bodies of the Association, get information
on Association's activities and be involved in preparation and implementation
of the Association's programs and projects. All members are obliged
to follow the Articles of the Association, pay the membership fee and
participate in the activities of the Association pursuant to the Articles.
Proceeding from the Articles, the Association has the right to open
representations and offices in Estonia and abroad. Representations and
offices are not independent legal entities, unless otherwise required
by the law of their domicile. The aim of the representations and offices
is to represent the interests of the Association in respective countries.
The management bodies and authority of the representations and offices
are determined by the Management Board in accordance with the laws of
Estonia and the respective countries.
MEMBERSHIP
The Association unites 44 Estonian legal entities operating as businesses.
The cross-section of membership of the Association reflects the diversity
of Estonian economy, including the biggest banks and financial organisations,
as well as biggest transit, service, construction, transport, industrial,
oil, wholesale and retail companies and representatives of other business
areas. The majority of the members of the Association belong to the
list of Estonian market leaders (TOP 100). The Association is open for
new members whose business activity meets the conditions of the Articles.
A number of Estonian employers have joined the association after its
foundation.
PRIORITIES
- develop favourable environment for business and foreign
economic activity, acknowledge and promote positions of EBA on vital
issues of entrepreneurship, follow the legislation regulating the
local business environment and its functioning; make proposals for
revising the legislation;
- contribute to the accession negotiations of Estonia
with the European Union, provide the members of the Association with
information about new business opportunities and problems proceeding
from the accession;
- co-operation with Baltic business communities;
- develop economic and trade relations between Estonia
and Russia, as well as between Estonia and CIS countries;
- to develop co-operation with other Estonian business
associations (the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Estonian
Confederation of Employers and Industry, the Estonian Association
of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, professional unions) in order
to facilitate business activity and improve business environment;
- to carry out organisational work to achieve the objectives
provided by the Articles
The Estonian Business Association has identified its
mission and role among other business associations operating in Estonia.
It does not duplicate the functions of other local organisations, such
as the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Estonian Confederation
of Employers and Industry, the Estonian Association of Small and Medium-sized
Enterprises. EBA as a strong lobby-organisation supports the specific
interests and activities of these organisations with the common aim
to facilitate favourable business environment. In January 1999, the
leaders of the four biggest business associations signed the joint declaration
on development of the state and its economy, which was presented to
the government and all political parties.
The EBA's main mission at the moment is to realise the current and new
ideas and proposals to facilitate the business and foreign economic
environment in the country, guarantee stable economic growth, increase
potential of export and improve the image of Estonia. If necessary,
EBA uses its influence to present and implement on state level well-grounded
proposals supporting the development of entrepreneurship.
CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS
The Estonian Business Association co-operates with a number of foreign
business associations, initiates and develops multilateral business
contacts. EBA is an associated member of the Estonian Confederation
of Employers and Industry (1998) and a supporting member of the Estonian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (1997). The representatives of EBA
work in joint task forces at various ministries, take part in the Estonian
export round table and other organisations, are represented in State
Committee on socio-economic development and invited to round tables
of professional unions. EBA has signed a number of co-operation agreements
and letters of intent both with Estonian and foreign business associations.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Association regularly organises information days for its members,
arranges meetings with state authorities, top managers and politicians.
The Management Board provides all members with information bulletins.
Members of the Association take active part in seminars and workshops
both at home and abroad.
EBA`s main activities are advancing high level business, political and
financial contacts and lobbying. EBA does not provide public services.
Management Board of the
Estonian Business Association |
